The suspected gunman accused of murdering two employees of the Israeli Embassy on Wednesday night allegedly chanted “Free, free Palestine” while in the custody of law enforcement officials. The shooting occurred at an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith made the revelations while updating the media about the murders. She provided the name of the suspect, Elias Rodriquez, and chronicled the events leading up to the shooting, saying he shot at four people before killing the man and woman whose identities have not been released, according to reports.
“Prior to the shooting, a suspect was observed pacing outside of the museum,” said Smith.
“The suspect chanted, ‘Free, free Palestine,’ while in custody. The suspect has been identified as 30-year-old Elias Rodriquez of Chicago, Illinois,” Smith added.
2 Israeli embassy staffers shot and killed outside the Capital Jewish Museum in D.C.
The suspect is now in police custody and is identified as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez of Chicago, IL, while chanting “Free Free Palestine” upon being arrested.
U.S. Attorney for Washington,…
— Dana Alexa (@DanaAlexaNews) May 22, 2025
She mentioned that the murder victims were about to be engaged, with the male victim recently purchasing a wedding ring and planning to propose during an upcoming visit to Jerusalem.
“The couple that was gunned down tonight in the name of ‘Free Palestine’ was a couple about to be engaged,” said Smith.
Tal Naim Cohen, a spokesperson for the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., said the victims were shot and killed “at close range,” the Times of Israel reported.
United States Attorney General Pam Bondi visited the crime scene shortly after the news of the murders. She was at the press conference detailing the incident along with Interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro. Pirro will prosecute the case. Bondi condemned the act of violence.
Bondi posted about the event on her X account and said she would pray for the victims.
Earlier in the night, Danny Danon, Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, also condemned the attack, calling it a “depraved act of anti-Semitic terrorism,” in a post on X.
The fatal shooting that took place outside the event that took place at the Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. is a depraved act of anti-Semitic terrorism. Harming the Jewish community is crossing a red line. We are confident that the US authorities will take strong action against… pic.twitter.com/mVyXHjGyxU
— Danny Danon
דני דנון (@dannydanon) May 22, 2025
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) also commented about the attack, claiming that the “Free Palestine” mantra is now associated with “terrorism.”
TWO KILLED IN SHOOTING OUTSIDE CAPITAL JEWISH MUSEUM
“‘Free Palestine’ isn’t resistance,” Mace posted. “It’s terrorism. And it’s being fueled by cowards who excuse it with cheap slogans and scarves.
“I support all Jews and the state of Israel,” she added. “‘May their memory be a blessing.’”
